Just sixty years ago, on August 28th, 1963, activists, religious communities, labor organizations, and individuals from across America gathered to hear A. Philip Randolph, Daisy Bates, John Lewis, and Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. call for economic justice, voting rights, education, civil rights protections, and an end to legal segregation during the pivotal March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. The voices that echoed throughout the Lincoln Memorial that day elevated the power of community and personal narratives to encourage and mobilize people to create lasting legislative change.
Today, Tanenbaum shapes and contributes to narratives that advance the cause of respecting religious differences. Our amicus brief in the 303 vs. Elenis case emphasizes the critical need to protect anti-discrimination laws today. We highlight the work of religious and spiritual organizations that have been working on anti-racism before and since the murder of George Floyd. And we encourage intentional conversations across differences to learn from each other.
Let today be a reminder that shaping narratives shapes history, and shaping history takes more voices than one, as a quarter of a million voices demonstrated 60 years ago today. Together, let’s continue building inclusive discourse and actions that welcome our differences.
Listen
- Privilege, Race, and Religion in the U.S. with Robert P. Jones, Ph.D. Mark Fowler and Robert P. Jones, Ph.D., CEO and Founder, Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) and author of White Too Long: The Legacy of White Supremacy in American Christianity, explore the relationship between American Christianity and white supremacy.
- Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” Speech NPR
Read
- Martin Luther King Jr. Faith & Nonviolent Protest: Making Nonviolence The Weapon of Choice A fact sheet sharing many ways King put his nonviolence values into action, the obstacles he encountered, and his inspiring resolve.
- An Online Assembly Attempts to Correct March on Washington Gender Gap Religion News Service
Watch
- Privilege, Race & Religion in the U.S. with Dr. Khyati Y. Joshi Mark Fowler and Khyati Y. Joshi, Ph.D., author of White Christian Privilege and professor of education at Fairleigh Dickinson University, discuss Christian privilege, normativity, and hegemony in the U.S.
- March on Washington’s 60th Anniversary Live Coverage Live coverage of the 60th Anniversary March on Washington gathering in Washington D.C.
Act
- Reflect on the Promise of the March on Washington: Contribute to Tanenbaum’s 3,000 Conversations for Building Respect Series The March on Washington took place 60 years ago, yet its call towards justice still applies today. Share your thoughts with us!
- 60th Anniversary of the March on Washington Film Screening A virtual film screening and discussion of director James Blue’s 1964 film The March.